New Empire Theatre, Southend-on-Sea

Sarfend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea Theatre Information

The New Empire Theatre can be found just off Southend's main High Street, in Alexandra Road. It's a self-funded theatre that's run by volunteers, and is available to local theatrical groups and performers.

The original Empire Theatre was first opened in 1871. The building was converted to the Rivoli Picture House in the early 1920s, and from 1962 to 1998, it was the home of the ABC Cinema.

The New Empire Theatre

Address: 22 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BU
Map: Click here for Streetmaps map (Looking for info on Visiting Southend?)
Box Office Tel: 01702 - 353577

Autumn and Winter 2007 Season

Copy of press release from New Empire Theatre, Alexandra Road, Southend-on-Sea:

Deep in the heart of Southend, the New Empire Theatre is preparing itself for another busy season of concerts, musicals, plays and variety shows.

Phill Jupitus, Rick Wakeman and winner of television's ‘Any Dream Will Do' contest, Lee Mead are just some of the performers lined up to ‘tread the boards' at Southend's New Empire Theatre, in Alexandra Street. Friday the 21st September sees the autumn season officially begin as TV's Phill Jupitus, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Andy Smart and Niall Ashdown present ‘An Evening Of Improvised Comedy'. All seasoned performers at the world-famous London Comedy Store, the evening promises to be a hilarious night of ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?' style entertainment. Tickets are on sale now, priced at Ł16.50. Do be sure to book before the night, as last years performance was sold out in advance.

Saturday the 22nd September, sees the ‘Stars at Heart' variety show, with local children and adults performing to raise funds for the registered charity – Riding for the Disabled. For music lovers we have three real treats in store. Firstly, on Friday the 28th September as the ‘Backbeat Beatles', one of the countries leading tribute acts visits the Empire as part of their UK Tour. Singing the very best songs by the Fab Four, the quartet have been heralded as the ‘Nearest you will get to the real thing' – [Daily Mail] and have built up a successful following. 40 years on the Beatles remain as popular, influential and important as ever, and this promises to be a show not to be missed! All seats are Ł15.00 and are available now.

Another Musical artist not to be missed is Rick Wakeman, creative genius behind the band yes, who brings his current UK ‘Grumpy Old Tour' to a close on Saturday the 10th November. The evening promises songs, anecdotes and stories from the prog-rock composer, and star of Televisions ‘grumpy Old Men'. A wry look at his career, with footage and songs, this promises to be an enjoyable ‘Grump Filled' evening! Tickets are Ł23.50, and patrons are advised to book early.

Completing the trio of music acts this year is another trio! ‘Trillogy'. The group of classically trained Sopranos, perform for us, backed with a full orchestra, they present their concert ‘Trillogy at the Movies' taking in the very best of classical film music from the last twenty years. The group will be joined by a very special guest artist, Lee Mead, winner of Televisions ‘Any Dream Will Do Concert', making a rare appearance in Southend. The concert takes place on Sunday 25th November at 6.30pm, tickets priced at only Ł10.00 and Ł8.00.

Playgoers are catered for too this autumn, when from Thursday the 11th – Saturday 13th October, award winning local company Threelance Theatre, with the New Empire Players, present the classic Willy Russell play, ‘Educating Rita'. Made famous by the film starring Michael Caine and Julie Walters, this comic play looks at the dreams and aspirations of Susan White, also known as Rita, and her jump into education through the Open University. ‘Willy Russell, also writer of ‘Shirley Valentine is a genius. It is confirmed here that he is'. Tickets are priced at only Ł5! And are on sale now. The play contains strong language and sexual references. The East Essex Players return from Thursday the 22nd – Saturday the 24th November with the spoof mystery play ‘Murdered to Death'. A hilarious take on the Agatha Christie genre, this play promises to be a great night out. Tickets are priced between Ł7.50 and Ł9.00.

Big Scale Musicals once more support the autumn lineup. The Theatres in House company the ‘New Empire Players' return, from Wednesday the 14th to Sunday the 18th November presenting the Broadway Smash Hit Musical ‘Gypsy'. The show recalls the early life of Burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee, and her Mother's push towards show business, which eventually leaves her empty and alone. The show is filled with many well-known songs including ‘Let Me Entertain You', ‘Some People' ‘Everything Coming Up Roses', ‘Wherever We Go' and ‘Gotta Get A Gimmick', [Most Notably performed in recent years by Cilla Black and Friends in the Royal Variety Show!]. Often heralded as the ‘Greatest of Broadway Musicals' the show has been performed by Ethel Merman, Tyne Daly, Bette Middler and Bernadette Peters to name but a few, and promises to be a dazzling full scale musical production. Tickets are priced at Ł8 to Ł9 and are on sale now.

Local Amateur societies complete the Musicals season this autumn with Little Theatre Club presenting the Barry Manilow musical ‘Copacabana' from the 30th October to the 3rd November, and Leigh Operatic and Dramatic Society presenting the Rogers and Hammerstein classic ‘Carousel' from the 16th to the 20th October. The moving musical tells the Tale of Billy Bigelow, given a second chance by heaven, and is filled with well known songs including ‘June Is Busting Out All Over' and the infamous ‘You'll Never Walk Alone'.

Christmas will soon be approaching, bringing with it another traditional, family pantomime. This year it is being presented by New World Productions, a professional company last seen at the New Empire with their Summer Production of ‘Beauty and the Beast'. ‘Snow White and her Seven Dwarves' will be singing and dancing their way to the theatre from Friday the 7th to Saturday 29th December. The Show star Ben Hanson from Televisions ‘Tracy Beaker' and BBC DJ Paul Harris, with a supporting line-up to be announced. The show promises to be a spectacular family production, perfect for the Christmas season, for children of all ages. Tickets are priced between Ł8.00 and Ł10.50, with a group discount available for parties over twenty, and a special low rate for Schools bookings. The New Empire is once again, proud to be amongst the lowest priced tickets in the country for this Professional Christmas Production, which we hope you can join us for.

More information on the theatres programme and the project can be found online at www.newempiretheatre.co.uk. To book tickets for any event, you can call the New Empire Threatre Box Office on 01702 - 353577